LA Rams roster adds Bortles, place WR Kupp on reserve/COVID-19 list

In an eye-opening release, the LA Rams do indeed sign QB Bortles but place WR Kupp on reserve/COVID-19 list

The LA Rams take one step forward and two steps back today with today’s announced transactions. In short, a zany finish to a zany season seems to be mind-numbing. After all, just two weeks ago, the LA Rams were 9-4 and were just one win away from locking down an NFL Playoff spot. Their opponent was the winless New York Jets, it was in SoFi Stadium, and the Rams wore bone jerseys.

Today the Rams are starting a backup quarterback for the finale. The Rams have lost their two best running backs to ankle injuries. None of the ‘they should be back soon’ players have recuperated enough to return to the active roster from injured reserve, and the Rams seem to be in a free fall with a two-game losing streak.

Today’s news

Today’s news is a bit of the familiar, a bit of the expected, and a trace of ‘what in the hell is going on?’ shocker.  So let’s peel back the layers of this one.  Starting with the familiar.

The Rams are restoring OL Bobby Evans to the 53-man roster from the reserve/COVID-19 list. That seems familiar enough. He will take over RB Darrell Henderson’s spot. As expected, the Rams have placed running back Darrell Henderson on IR. That eliminates him for a minimum of three weeks, so the Rams will need to achieve a playoff spot and advance to the NFC Championship game to have any hope of seeing Henderson back, if then.

Bortles back to the backup spot

Also, the Rams made good on their vow to sign last year’s backup quarterback Blake Bortles to the active-53 man roster. While he will need to clear COVID-19 protocols, his signing gives the Rams a chance to retain undrafted rookie Bryce Perkins on the practice squad as an emergency quarantine quarterback.

Of course, the Rams had to have a slot for Bortles, and it came in the form of moving WR Cooper Kupp to the reserve/COVID-19 list.  Since we don’t have details, we cannot speculate why or for how long Kupp will be out. As it now stands, the LA Rams offense will finish the season without OT Andrew Whitworth, RB Cam Akers, QB Jared Goff, RB Darrell Henderson, and WR Cooper Kupp.
The possibility to have Kupp back for Sunday’s game exists, but we have nothing to base that on yet.